AFC South Fantasy Breakdown

Schaub finally stayed healthy for a whole year and managed to put up the kind of season we’ve been waiting for. He can do it all again, provided he can stay healthy. He’s definitely a top 10 guy with top five potential.

This backfield is a mess. Foster will get the first shot, and reports from camp have him looking very good. Tate, the rookie, has looked OK, but needs time to pick things up. Slaton, who was probably drafted in the top 10 last year, never panned out. He’s been pushed back to the third-down, change-of-pace role that he excelled at and should do better back in that role. Foster is probably the guy you want here, and is a bargain for where he’s going.

Johnson is the best receiver in the league. He’s big, strong, fast, and has a quarterback who loves throwing the ball to him. He will not disappoint those who take him in round 1. Jones is more of a sleeper. He’s got a nice size and speed combination, and is likely to start opposite of Johnson. I like his upside later in the draft.

Daniels injured his knee last year midseason. But, he was very productive in the first half, and should be again. He’s still working his way back from the injury, but he and head coach Gary Kubiak believe he’ll be back by week 1. If he is, he should be able to be a starter for someone in your fantasy league, although I wouldn’t draft him in Round 8, where he’s currently coming off the board.

Addai was one of the more productive backs in the league last year, but his injury worries always scare off owners. I myself am not a big fan of oft-injured runningbacks, but Addai always seems to be a change of pace for defenses who are worried about Manning. Solid production in the fifth round. Brown is supposed to blow up this year, but I’ll believe that when I see it. He’s a handcuff, but that’s about it.

While I think Manning will be fantastic, I see him spreading the wealth to his various weapons.Wayne looked older last year. He’s still a top 10 receiver, but he’s not a top five guy. Garcon and Collie came on late in the season and really turned some heads. Manning has a lot to choose from and will make sure everyone is in on the action.

TE:DallasClark

He was a beast last year, putting up great points for a receiver, let alone a tight end. He should be money once again patrolling the middle of the field for one of the NFL’s most lethal quarterbacks. My only concern is that he’s going too early, late in the fourth round.

Garrard is going later in drafts than he probably should be, but that’s because he’s definitely not a top 10 quarterback. He struggles with turnovers, both interceptions and fumbles, but he often can make up for that with some rushing stats. He finished somewhere in the mid-teens among quarterbacks last year, and will probably do more of the same. He’s a matchup play, but that’s about it.

Jones-Drew was awesome last year. He’s a little guy, but has the power and speed to catch defenses off guard. The Jaguar offense runs through him, so as Jones-Drew goes, so go the Jaguars. He’ll hit 1,300 yards on the ground, a couple hundred through the air, and score 12-15 touchdowns, easy.

Sims-Walker really exploded on the scene, becoming Garrard’s go-to guy and putting him in the top 20 among receivers. But, while Sims-Walker is a possession guy, Thomas is more of a speed threat. He’ll get deep for a few long touchdowns, but that’s not what you’re looking for. If he’s not available on the waiver wire, someone like him will be.

Young is the opposite of a guy like Hines Ward: he’s actually a better fantasy player than a football player. That said, his fantasy numbers are actually better than where he’s being drafted. He’s going in the 12th or 13th round, but his production once he took over was really good, rattling off eight straight starts with at least 12 points. That’s at least serviceable. His legs will always give him something extra, and he should be able to crack the top 15 quarterbacks.

His numbers last year speak for themselves. He broke 100 yards his last 11 games, never scoring fewer than 13 points during that span. He’s with Adrian Peterson at the top of the draft. If the owner picking first takes Peterson, take Johnson quickly and laugh at the guy.

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